Diagnostic capability of a linear discriminant function applied to a novel Spectralis OCT glaucoma-detection protocol.

BACKGROUND: Bruch membrane opening-minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) assessment offers a new diagnostic use in glaucoma patients of the Glaucoma Module Premium Edition (GMPE) available for the Spectralis optical coherence tomography (OCT) system. The objective of our research was to evaluate the diagnostic benefits of examining BMO-MRW and peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (pRNFL) readings acquired with Spectralis OCT to distinguish between healthy and mild glaucoma patients, comparing those readings with the standard pRNFL application. Moreover, we investigated whether using a particular combination of BMO-MRW and pRNFL parameters with a linear discriminant function (LDF) could further enhance glaucoma diagnosis. METHODS: One hundred thirty-six eyes from 136 individuals were incorporated into this observational, prospective cross-sectional study: 68 mild primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients according to the Hodapp-Parrish-Anderson criteria (mean deviation between 0 and - 6 dB) and 68 healthy control subjects selected by Propensity Score Matching. MRW and pRNFL thickness around the disc (diameters: 3.5 mm, 4.1 mm, and 4.7 mm) were obtained using the BMO-MRW protocol, and pRNFL thickness at 3.5 mm was obtained with the standard glaucoma application. The group data were contrasted. One sample was chosen at random to develop the LDF (teaching set: 34 healthy subjects and 34 POAG patients) using a combination of MRW and pRNFL parameters (acquired with the BMO-MRW protocol); the other sample provided a test of how the LDF performed on an independent group (validating set: 34 healthy subjects and 34 POAG patients). The receiver operating curves (ROCs) were plotted for every measurement and contrasted with the proposed LDF. The OCT parameters with the best area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were determined. RESULTS: Global MRW and pRNFL thicknesses were significantly thinner in the POAG group (p <  0.001). The BMO-MRW parameters showed good diagnostic accuracy; the largest AUCs reached 0.875 for the LDF and 0.879 for global RNFL thickness using the standard glaucoma application. There were no statistical differences between the AUCs calculated. CONCLUSIONS: BMO-MRW parameters show a strong capability to differentiate between mild glaucoma and control eyes. Our LDF based on the new BMO-MRW OCT protocol did not perform better than isolated parameters.

VISUAL FUNCTION AND RETINAL CHANGES IN PATIENTS WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER.

PURPOSE: To evaluate visual and retinal changes in patients with bipolar disorder. To analyze the correlation between structural changes and visual function parameters. METHODS: Thirty patients with bipolar disorder and 80 healthy controls underwent visual function evaluation with Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study charts at 100%, 2.50%, and 1.25% contrast, Pelli-Robson chart, and color vision Farnsworth and Lanthony tests. Analysis of the different retinal layers was performed using Spectralis optical coherence tomography with automated segmentation software. Correlation analysis between structural and functional parameters was conducted. RESULTS: Patients with bipolar disorder presented worse color vision compared with controls (Lanthony's index, P = 0.002). Full macular thickness, the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer, and inner plexiform layer were reduced in patients compared with healthy individuals (P < 0.005). The inner nuclear layer was significantly thickened in patients (P < 0.005). Peripapillary RNFL thickness was reduced in all temporal sectors (P < 0.005). Significant correlations were found between visual acuity and the RNFL thickness, the Pelli-Robson score and the inner plexiform layer, and between the Lanthony's color index and the ganglion cell layer thickness. CONCLUSION: Patients with bipolar disorder present quantifiable thinning of the macular RNFL, ganglion cell layer, and inner plexiform layer, as well as in the peripapillary RNFL thickness, and increasing thinning in the inner nuclear layer.

Retinal and Optic Nerve Degeneration in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Followed up for 5 Years.

PURPOSE: To quantify retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) changes in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy controls with a 5-year follow-up and to analyze correlations between disability progression and RNFL degeneration. DESIGN: Observational and longitudinal study. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 50 healthy controls. METHODS: All participants underwent a complete ophthalmic and electrophysiologic exploration and were re-evaluated annually for 5 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual acuity (Snellen chart), color vision (Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plates), visual field examination, optical coherence tomography (OCT), scanning laser polarimetry (SLP), and visual evoked potentials. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores, disease duration, treatments, prior optic neuritis episodes, and quality of life (QOL; based on the 54-item Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Scale score). RESULTS: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed changes in all RNFL thicknesses in both groups. In the MS group, changes were detected in average thickness and in the mean deviation using the GDx-VCC nerve fiber analyzer (Laser Diagnostic Technologies, San Diego, CA) and in the P100 latency of visual evoked potentials; no changes were detected in visual acuity, color vision, or visual fields. Optical coherence tomography showed greater differences in the inferior and temporal RNFL thicknesses in both groups. In MS patients only, OCT revealed a moderate correlation between the increase in EDSS and temporal and superior RNFL thinning. Temporal RNFL thinning based on OCT results was correlated moderately with decreased QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple sclerosis patients exhibit a progressive axonal loss in the optic nerve fiber layer. Retinal nerve fiber layer thinning based on OCT results is a useful marker for assessing MS progression and correlates with increased disability and reduced QOL.

A Randomized Trial of a Schlemm's Canal Microstent with Phacoemulsification for Reducing Intraocular Pressure in Open-Angle Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To assess the safety and effectiveness of the Hydrus Microstent (Ivantis, Inc, Irvine, CA) with concurrent cataract surgery (CS) for reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) in open-angle glaucoma (OAG). DESIGN: Prospective, multicenter, randomized, single-masked, controlled clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred eyes from 100 patients 21 to 80 years of age with OAG and cataract with IOP of 24 mmHg or less with 4 or fewer hypotensive medications and a washed-out diurnal IOP (DIOP) of 21 to 36 mmHg. METHODS: On the day of surgery, patients were randomized 1:1 to undergo CS with the microstent or CS alone. Postoperative follow-up was at 1 day, 1 week, and 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Washout of hypotensive medications was repeated at 12 and 24 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Response to treatment was defined as a 20% or more decrease in washed out DIOP at 12 and 24 months of follow-up compared with baseline. Mean DIOP at 12 and 24 months, the proportion of subjects requiring medications at follow-up, and the mean number of medications were analyzed. Safety measures included change in visual acuity, slit-lamp observations, and adverse events. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with a 20% reduction in washed out DIOP was significantly higher in the Hydrus plus CS group at 24 months compared with the CS group (80% vs. 46%; P = 0.0008). Washed out mean DIOP in the Hydrus plus CS group was significantly lower at 24 months compared with the CS group (16.9±3.3 mmHg vs. 19.2±4.7 mmHg; P = 0.0093), and the proportion of patients using no hypotensive medications was significantly higher at 24 months in the Hydrus plus CS group (73% vs. 38%; P = 0.0008). There were no differences in follow-up visual acuity between groups. The only notable device-related adverse event was focal peripheral anterior synechiae (1-2 mm in length). Otherwise, adverse event frequency was similar in the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Intraocular pressure was clinically and statistically significantly lower at 2 years in the Hydrus plus CS group compared with the CS alone group, with no differences in safety.

Retinal layer segmentation in patients with multiple sclerosis using spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the thickness of the 10 retinal layers in the paramacular area of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared with healthy subjects using the new segmentation technology of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). To examine which layer has better sensitivity for detecting neurodegeneration in patients with MS. DESIGN: Observational, cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with MS (n = 204) and age-matched healthy subjects (n = 138). METHODS: The Spectralis OCT system (Heidelberg Engineering, Inc., Heidelberg, Germany) was used to obtain automated segmentation of all retinal layers in a parafoveal scan in 1 randomly selected eye of each participant, using the new segmentation application prototype. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The thicknesses of 512 parafoveal points in the 10 retinal layers were obtained in each eye, and the mean thickness of each layer was calculated and compared between patients with MS and healthy subjects. The analysis was repeated, comparing patients with MS with and without previous optic neuritis. Correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the association between each retinal layer mean thickness, duration of disease, and functional disability in patients with MS. A logistic regression analysis was performed to determine which layer provided better sensitivity for detecting neurodegeneration in patients with MS. RESULTS: All retinal layers, except the inner limiting membrane, were thinner in patients with MS compared with healthy subjects (P < 0.05). Greater effects were observed in the inner retinal layers (nerve fiber, ganglion cells, inner plexiform, and inner nuclear layers) of eyes with previous optic neuritis (P < 0.05). The retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layer thicknesses were inversely correlated with the functional disability score in patients with MS. The ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer thicknesses could predict axonal damage in patients with MS. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis based on the segmentation technology of the Spectralis OCT revealed retinal layer atrophy in patients with MS, especially of the inner layers. Reduction of the ganglion cell and inner plexiform layers predicted greater axonal damage in patients with MS.

Retina measurements for diagnosis of Parkinson disease.

PURPOSE: To test the diagnostic ability of spectral domain optical coherence tomography for the detection of Parkinson disease using retinal nerve fiber layer and retinal thickness parameters. Retinal pigment epithelium produces levodopa. METHODS: Patients with Parkinson disease (n = 111) and healthy subjects (n = 200) were enrolled. The Spectralis optical coherence tomography was used to obtain retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and retinal measurements. Two linear discriminant functions (LDFs) were developed, one using retinal nerve fiber layer parameters and another using retinal thickness. A validating set was used to test the performance of both LDFs. Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted and compared with the standard parameters provided by optical coherence tomography for both LDFs. Sensitivity and specificity were used to evaluate diagnostic performance. RESULTS: The Retinal LDF combines only retinal thickness parameters and provided the best performance: 31.173 + 0.026 × temporal outer - 0.267 × superior outer + 0.159 × nasal outer - 0.197 × inferior outer - 0.060 × superior inner + 0.049 × foveal thickness. The largest areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 0.902 for Retinal LDF. The Retinal LDF yielded the highest sensitivity values. CONCLUSION: Measurements of retinal thickness differentiate between subjects who are healthy and those with advanced Parkinson disease.

Efficacy of estimations of Hartmann-Shack sensors in small pupil sizes.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vivo efficacy of the estimations of wavefront analyzers using Hartmann-Shack technology to measure optical aberrations when the pupil size is smaller than the evaluated pupil area. METHODS: Patients implanted with the monofocal ZCB00 intraocular lens (Johnson and Johnson) were examined with the KR-1W Wavefront Analyzer (Topcon) without pharmacological mydriasis and with it afterward. Optical aberrations were analyzed considering a 4-mm pupil and a 6-mm pupil for both examinations. RESULTS: Sixty-six eyes of 33 patients with a mean axial length of 23.35 ± 0.91 mm were assessed. The mean pupil diameter at the baseline examination was 5.05 ± 0.88 mm and under pharmacological mydriasis, it was 6.29 ± 0.84 mm. Outcomes were similar with and without dilation in the 4-mm comparison. However, there was a great disparity in the 6-mm comparison. Most of the values obtained under mydriasis were statistically lower than at baseline (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The iris interferes with measurements of wavefront aberrations, and therefore, real pupil size should always be checked before evaluating optical aberrations with Hartman-Shack sensors. When pupil size is smaller than the analyzed diameter, ocular, and internal, and sometimes, corneal aberrations are estimated far more positive than real values.

Predictive value of confocal scanning laser for the onset of visual field loss in glaucoma suspects.

PURPOSE: To perform a longitudinal multivariate analysis of the ability of Moorfields Regression Analysis (MRA) to predict the onset of glaucoma in a population of patients with suspected glaucoma due to appearance of the optic nerve head. DESIGN: Prospective longitudinal evaluation of a diagnostic test. PARTICIPANTS: Single, randomly selected eye of prospectively recruited patients with suspected glaucoma based on the optic nerve head appearance on stereophotographs and normal baseline visual field results. METHODS: The MRA was evaluated at baseline (Heidelberg Retina Tomograph; Heidelberg Engineering, Dossenheim, Germany), and visual field tests were repeated every 6 months. A longitudinal multivariate proportional hazard ratio (HR) analysis was performed, and likelihood ratios and positive and negative predictive values were compared. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Onset of visual field losses. RESULTS: The study included 230 eyes that were followed up during a mean period of 62±14 months, ranging from 4 to 7 years. The predicted HR (for onset of visual field losses) of the MRA temporal-inferior sector outside normal limits was 3.65 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.32-5.75; P < 0.0001). An MRA temporal-superior sector outside normal limits had an HR of 3.43 (95% CI, 2.21-5.32; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The temporal-inferior and temporal-superior positions of the MRA are highly predictive for the onset of visual field loss in glaucoma suspects.

Diagnostic ability of a linear discriminant function for spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in patients with multiple sclerosis.

PURPOSE: To calculate and validate a linear discriminant function (LDF) for spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) to improve the diagnostic ability of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness parameters for the detection of multiple sclerosis (MS). DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with multiple sclerosis (n = 115) and age-matched healthy subjects (n = 115) were enrolled in the study. METHODS: The Spectralis OCT system (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) was used to obtain the circumpapillary RNFL thickness in both eyes of each participant. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A validating set including 60% of the study subjects (69 healthy individuals and 69 patients with MS) was used to test the performance of the LDF in an independent population. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted and compared with the RNFL parameters measured using OCT. Sensitivity and specificity were used to evaluate diagnostic performance. RESULTS: The optimized function was 4.965 - 0.40 × (mean thickness 15-30 degrees) - 0.17 × (mean thickness 300-315 degrees) + 2.743 - 0.032 × (mean thickness 105-120 degrees) - 0.031 × (mean thickness 120-135 degrees) - 0.018 × (mean thickness 225-240 degrees). The largest area under the ROC curve was 0.834 for our LDF in the validating population. At 95% fixed specificity, the LDF yielded the highest sensitivity values. CONCLUSIONS: Measurements of RNFL thickness obtained with Spectralis OCT had good ability to differentiate between healthy individuals and individuals with MS. On the basis of the area under the ROC curve, the LDF performed better than any single parameter.

Toric intraocular lens implantation vs femtosecond laser-assisted arcuate keratotomy for correction of moderate astigmatism in cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To compare toric intraocular lens (TIOL) implantation and femtosecond laser-assisted arcuate keratotomy (FSAK) during phacoemulsification surgery in correction of moderate astigmatism. SETTING: Clinical research study. DESIGN: Prospective randomized comparison study. METHODS: Patients with age-related cataract and moderate preoperative corneal astigmatism of 1.25 to 3.0 diopters (D) were randomized into a TIOL implantation group and an FSAK group with symmetrical paired corneal arcuate keratotomies. The preoperative evaluation included corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), corneal topography, autokeratometry, and ocular biometry. Postoperative examinations were performed at 1 month and 3 months and included CDVA and uncorrected distance visual acuity, manifest refraction, autokeratometry, and corneal topography. Vector analysis of astigmatic changes was performed using the Alpins vector method. RESULTS: This study comprised 75 eyes from 67 patients. The mean residual refractive astigmatism at 3 months was -0.63 ± 0.55 D in the TIOL group and -0.90 ± 0.53 D in the FSAK group ( P = .037) and was ≤1.00 D in 32 eyes (84%) and 25 eyes (64%), respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in difference vector, angle of error, magnitude error, or correction index in the 3-month follow-up. The index of success was 0.32 ± 0.33 D in the TIOL group and 0.48 ± 0.29 D in the FSAK group ( P = .029). CONCLUSIONS: TIOL implantation showed better results in correcting moderate astigmatism. Despite this, FSAK is shown to be a safe technique for reducing astigmatism.

Retinal nerve fiber hypertrophy in ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay patients.

PURPOSE: To present full ophthalmologic examination and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) photographs of autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) patients showing significant increases in RNFL thickness compared to healthy subjects, but without myelinated retinal fibers. METHODS: The study design was observational case series. Ten eyes of five patients with molecular confirmation of ARSACS underwent a full ophthalmologic examination that included clinical history, visual acuity, biomicroscopy of the anterior segment, gonioscopy, Goldmann applanation tonometry, central corneal ultrasonic pachymetry, ophthalmoscopy of the posterior segment, standard automatic perimetry (Humphrey field), simultaneous stereophotographs of the optic disc after mydriasis, a series of five red-free digital fundus photographs for RNFL evaluation, topographic analysis of the optic disc using the Heidelberg retina tomography, and measurement of peripapillary RNFL thickness with Cirrus optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: All patients showed abnormal visual fields, normal optic discs with a mild to strikingly increased visibility of RNFL in color stereophotographs, normal Heidelberg tomography, and moderate to markedly increased RNFL thickness in Cirrus tomography (average thickness ranging from 119 µm to 220 µm). CONCLUSIONS: We found evidence of RNFL hypertrophy in ARSACS patients that may have been interpreted as hypermyelinated retinal fibers in previous reports. A revision of ARSACS diagnostic criteria, particularly with regard to retinal alterations, is necessary.

Optical aberrations in three different intraocular lens designs of a same platform.

PURPOSE: To compare internal optical aberrations between three different intraocular lenses (IOL) of the same Tecnis platform: monofocal ZCB00, multifocal ZMB00, and enlarged depth-of-focus (EDoF) Symfony ZXR00. METHODS: We included in this study 236 eyes of 118 patients who had been bilaterally implanted either with the monofocal, the multifocal, or the EDoF IOL. They were examined with the K1-RW wavefront analyzer (Topcon Medical Systems) 2 months after surgery. Patients with any ocular pathology were excluded from the study. Only high-order aberrations (HOA) of the third and fourth orders of the Zernike polynomials were considered. RESULTS: Forty-three patients (86 eyes) were implanted with the monofocal IOL, 45 patients (90 eyes) with the ZMB00 IOL, and 30 patients (60 eyes) with the EDoF Symfony IOL. Mean age was 62.42 ± 7.38, 63.60 ± 6.01, and 64.74 ± 5.84 years, respectively. Mean axial length was 23.37 ± 1.00, 23.49 ± 1.00, and 23.54 ± 0.73 mm, respectively. For a 6-mm pupil, internal total HOA in the monofocal group was 1.01 ± 1.75 µm; in the bifocal group was 1.35 ± 2.12 µm; and in the Symfony group was 0.72 ± 0.63 µm. No optical aberration differences were found among the three groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: There are no differences regarding internal optical aberrations between these three IOLs when analyzing them with optical aberrometry. Patients' pupil size should be considered for the selection of the most appropriate IOL to be implanted, because despite a same optical platform, every IOL implies a different increase of HOA with larger pupil sizes.

Ganglion Cell and Retinal Nerve Fiver Layers Correlated with Time Disease of Bipolar Disorder Using 64 Cell Grid OCT Tool.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five eyes of 25 patients with bipolar disorder and 74 eyes of 74 healthy controls underwent retinal measurements of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness. Measurements were obtained using the Spectralis-OCT device with the new Posterior Pole protocol which assesses the macular area by analyzing retinal thickness in a grid of 64 (8*8) cells. RESULTS: Significant differences (p < 0.05) in RNFL and GCL thickness were found between BD patients and healthy controls, in parafoveal and perifoveal cells respectively. Significant inverse correlations were found between RNFL and GCL thinning at their thickest location and the duration of bipolar disorder. Several predictive variables were observed with a binary logistic regression for the presence/absence of BD: cell 1.3 RNFL (p = 0.028) and GCL in cells 7.8 (p = 0.012), 2.7 (p = 0.043) and 1.3 (p = 0.047). CONCLUSION: Posterior Pole OCT protocol is a useful tool to assess changes in the inner retinal layers in bipolar disorder. These observed changes, especially those affecting the GCL, may be associated with disease evolution and may be predictive of the presence of the disease. OCT data could potentially be a useful tool for clinicians to diagnose and monitor BD patients.

Comparison of visual and optical quality of monofocal versus multifocal intraocular lenses.

OBJECTIVE: To compare visual quality in patients implanted with Tecnis® monofocal (ZCB00) and multifocal (ZMB00) intraocular lenses taking into account their optical quality measured in vitro with an eye model. METHODS: In total, 122 patients participated in this study: 44 implanted with monofocal and 78 with multifocal intraocular lenses. Measurements of visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were performed. The optical quality of the intraocular lenses was evaluated in three image planes (distance, intermediate and near) using an eye model on a test bench. The metric considered was the area under the curve of the modulation transfer function. RESULTS: Optical quality at the far focus of the monofocal intraocular lens (area under the curve of the modulation transfer function = 66.97) was considerably better than that with the multifocal lens (area under the curve of the modulation transfer function = 32.54). However, no significant differences were observed between groups at the distance-corrected visual acuity. Distance-corrected near vision was better in the multifocal (0.15 ± 0.20 logMAR) than that in the monofocal group (0.43 ± 0.21 logMAR, p < 0.001), which correlated with the better optical quality at near reached by the multifocal intraocular lens (area under the curve of the modulation transfer function = 29.11) in comparison with the monofocal intraocular lens (area under the curve of the modulation transfer function = 5.0). In intermediate vision, visual acuity was 0.28 ± 0.16 logMAR (multifocal) and 0.36 ± 0.14 logMAR (monofocal) with p = 0.014, also in good agreement with the values measured in the optical quality (area under the curve of the modulation transfer function = 10.69 (multifocal) and 8.86 (monofocal)). The contrast sensitivity was similar in almost all frequencies. Pelli-Robson was slightly better in the monofocal (1.73) than in the multifocal group (1.64; p = 0.023). CONCLUSION: Patients implanted with multifocal ZMB00 achieved a distance visual acuity similar to those implanted with monofocal ZCB00, but showed significantly better intermediate and near visual acuity. A correlation was found between intraocular lenses' optical quality and patients' visual acuity. Contrast sensitivity was very similar between the multifocal and monofocal groups.

Reproducibility of retinal and choroidal measurements using swept-source optical coherence tomography in patients with Parkinson's disease.

PURPOSE: To assess the reproducibility of retinal and choroidal measurements in the macular and peripapillary areas using swept-source optical coherence tomography in patients with Parkinson's disease. METHODS: A total of 63 eyes of 63 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease were evaluated using a three-dimensional protocol of swept-source optical coherence tomography. The following layers were analyzed: full retinal thickness, retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer, and choroid. The coefficient of variation was calculated for every measurement. RESULTS: In the macular area, the mean coefficients of variation of retinal thickness, ganglion cell layer + thickness, and choroidal thickness were 0.40%, 0.84%, and 2.09%, respectively. Regarding the peripapillary area, the mean coefficient of variation of the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was 2.78. The inferior quadrant showed the highest reproducibility (coefficient of variation= 1.62%), whereas the superonasal sector showed the lowest reproducibility (coefficient of variation= 8.76%). CONCLUSIONS: Swept-source optical coherence tomography provides highly reproducible measurements of retinal and choroidal thickness in both the macular and peripapillary areas. The reproducibility is higher in measurements of retinal thickness versus choroidal thickness.

Retinal nerve fiber layer evaluation in open-angle glaucoma. Optimum criteria for optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE: To determine the optimum criteria for optical coherence tomography (OCT) to discriminate best between healthy and glaucomatous eyes. DESIGN: A prospective cross-sectional study. METHODS: In total, 164 eyes selected from clinical practice were included in this study. These were classified into 98 healthy and 66 glaucomatous eyes, depending on the intraocular pressure, appearance of the optic disc and standard automated perimetry results. Only 1 eye per subject was randomly included. The retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) was evaluated by means of OCT (Stratus OCT 3000). The sensitivity and specificity values of different diagnostic criteria (4 abnormal quadrants and 1-5 abnormal clock-hours) were calculated with different probability levels (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). RESULTS: The criterion with the best sensitivity-specificity balance was the presence of >or=2 hour positions with an RNFL thickness outside of the 95% confidence interval (CI; sensitivity = 77.2%, specificity = 91.9%). For the 99% CI, the best criterion was the presence of at least 1 abnormal hour position (sensitivity = 71.2%, specificity = 91%). Regarding retinal quadrants, the presence of at least 1 quadrant with RNFL thickness outside of the CI was the criterion that best discriminated the existence of glaucomatous damage. CONCLUSIONS: The definition of diagnostic criteria based on OCT structural parameters may improve its diagnostic ability. The highest diagnostic ability was provided by the presence of at least 2 hour positions or RNFL average thickness outside the 95% CI.

Ability of different optical imaging devices to discriminate between healthy and glaucomatous eyes.

We compared the ability to discriminate between healthy and glaucomatous eyes of three optical imaging devices in 140 eyes from 140 subjects. No statistically significant differences were found among the AUCs of these parameters. However, AUCs were significantly higher in OCT and HRT parameters than most of GDx VCC ones. Thus, structural parameters assessed by the optical imaging devices are useful to discriminate glaucomatous damage, but showed no significant difference among the best parameters from HRT, OCT or GDx VCC.

Comparative study of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in normal eyes, ocular hypertensives, preperimetric glaucoma and glaucomatous subjects.

We assessed and compared the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in normal eyes, ocular hypertensives, preperimetric glaucoma and glaucomatous subjects by means of optical coherence tomography in 449 eye. RNFL in glaucoma patients was significantly thinner than in normal subjects in every location evaluated. Use of optical coherence tomography detects glaucomatous RNFL losses in preperimetric glaucoma and can improve our ability to detect structural damage in clinical practice.

Ability of optical imaging devices to detect early structural damage in ocular hypertension.

We evaluated the ability of functional and structural technologies to detect early damage in ocular-hypertensive (OHT) eyes with normal standard automated perimetry (SAP) in 48 normal and 130 ocular-hypertensive subjects. We found that optical imaging devices may detect early damage in the RNFL and the optic nerve head in ocular-hypertensive eyes with no defect in SAP.